OVERVIEW
Since the early 2000s, Curry Architects has been a part of the growth of Baltimore County Fire Station 32 for the Pikesville Fire Company. Nearly 20 years ago, Curry Architects expanded the station’s original 1962 footprint to house its growing fleet of state-of-the-art equipment. More recently in 2018, Curry Architects redesigned and renovated the offices, community spaces, and sleeping quarters. This major renovation was a massive exercise in space planning where an underutilized bingo hall was repurposed to allow for a community gathering and training space, several new offices, a conference room, fitness center, and lounges. The former commercial kitchen of the bingo hall was redesigned for daily use by the corps of volunteers that are at the facility round the clock. The redesign was even able to include kosher-designated cooking areas and equipment.
Perhaps most significant in the renovation of Station 32, has been the update of the sleeping and showering quarters. Prior to this renovation there was only one restroom for nearly 100 active duty volunteers and the bunks, kitchen, and lounge were all in one open space above the bingo hall. With the reconfiguration of the lower level, this second floor added multiple bathrooms with private showers as well as laundry facilities. Sleeping berths with twin beds replaced the noisy bunks. For volunteers that live onsite, more spacious private rooms were accommodated into the redesign. The increase in sleeping quarters and restrooms has allowed Station 32 to come into the 21st century with it’s volunteer workforce that is mixed gender.
Station 32 has a long history serving the Baltimore County community as the second oldest fire company in the area. It was important to celebrate this heritage by showcasing it. All of the walls of the fire station are covered in photography documenting the Station’s fleet, members, and heroic efforts. The former lobby of the bingo hall was converted into a museum space where ephemera is on display including historic uniforms and equipment like the horse-drawn water pump from 1897 that was operated by hand.
Façade improvements included the hose tower which has been repainted and lit so the Station 32 is visible from the street. The new museum space has a new façade and the fire station bell is proudly on display in front on a new brick entry veranda.
The Station 32 redesign by Curry Architects has been featured in The Baltimore Sun, WMAR Channel 2 News, The Daily Record, The Jewish Times, and the Baltimore Business Journal.
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